Kinetic investigation and mathematical modeling of methanogenesis of glucose

The kinetic regularities of anaerobic conversion of glucose, and intermediates of its decomposition (ethanol, butyrate, and acetate) by a microbial methanogenic association from anaerobic digester were investigated. Kinetic scheme for conversion of glucose is suggested, and the mathematical model based on the scheme is evolved. The model includes growth and metabolism of three kinds of microorganisms--acid producents, and acetate- and hydrogen-utilizing methane producents; of cell lysis with consequent fermentation of "died biomass" to acetate, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide; of induction and repression of the enzyme responsible for decomposition of butyrate, and for a number of regulations depending on the concentrations of intermediates in glucose metabolism. The values of parameters of the model have been calculated, sufficiently describing the experimental regularities. The numerical experiments have enabled us to reveal and describe the principal regulating factors of glucose methanogenesis.